. >> brown: on the other side of the aisle, democrats, like gary peters of michigan, said the fine print in the g.o.p. plan does real harm. >> christmas is a time of giving, but sadly republicans are taking. taking food off the table from millions of american families that are struggling in these tough economic times by cutting food assistance by $36 billion. taking the unemployment lifeline away from more than two million americans who are trying to get back on their feet. >> brown: and in the senate, democratic majority leader harry reid warned today the boehner plan is a non-starter in his chamber. >> we're not taking up any of the things they are working on over there. it's time for republicans to get serious. it's very, very, very unfortunate that republicans have wasted an entire week on a number of pointless political stunts, and that's what they've been. >> brown: as the day wound down, there appeared to be little prospect for any agreement before christmas. >> brown: what's going on and where do things stand? joining me now: norman ornstein, a long-time watcher of congress and a